A Pit Bull with muzzle on leash looks at the camera in an animal shelter.

A Pit Bull with muzzle on leash looks at the camera in an animal shelter.

Photo: CHRISTOF STACHE, STR

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A woman approaches a memorial for Christina Bell Burleson, 43, who was attacked and died from wounds after being mauled by two female pit bulls on the corner of Glen Prairie near Leonora Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2014, in Houston. The woman, who did not want to be identified, said that she was friends with Burleson and her loss is tragic. "She was a real person, she just wasn't someone on the streets." less

A woman approaches a memorial for Christina Bell Burleson, 43, who was attacked and died from wounds after being mauled by two female pit bulls on the corner of Glen Prairie near Leonora Wednesday, Jan. 8, ... more

Photo: Johnny Hanson, Houston Chronicle

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A memorial for Christina Bell Burleson, 43, on the corner of Leonora and Glen Prairie, who was attacked and died from wounds after being mauled by two female pit bulls at that spot Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2014, in Houston. The note reads, "R.I.P Lil Speedy. Now you finally have your wings. Soar high." less

A memorial for Christina Bell Burleson, 43, on the corner of Leonora and Glen Prairie, who was attacked and died from wounds after being mauled by two female pit bulls at that spot Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2014, in ... more

Photo: Johnny Hanson, Houston Chronicle

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Osby Pinles shows his bloody knuckles after he tried to pull two female pit bulls off a woman around
2 a.m. on the corner of Glen Prairie and Leonora.

Osby Pinles shows his bloody knuckles after he tried to pull two female pit bulls off a woman around
2 a.m. on the corner of Glen Prairie and Leonora.

Photo: J. Patric Schneider, Freelance

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Osby Pinles shows his bloody calves after he attempted to pull off two female pit bulls off a female victim around 2 a.m. on the corner of Glen Prairie and Leonora on Sunday, Jan. 5, 2014, in Houston. According to authorities, a total of three victims were attacked with the female victim dying at the scene from multiple wounds. less

Osby Pinles shows his bloody calves after he attempted to pull off two female pit bulls off a female victim around 2 a.m. on the corner of Glen Prairie and Leonora on Sunday, Jan. 5, 2014, in Houston. According ... more

Photo: J. Patric Schneider, For The Chronicle

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Provided photo of Christina Bell Burleson, 43. Burlenson was attacked and died from wounds after being mauled by two female pit bulls on the corner of Glen Prairie near Leonora Sunday, around 2 a.m.

Provided photo of Christina Bell Burleson, 43. Burlenson was attacked and died from wounds after being mauled by two female pit bulls on the corner of Glen Prairie near Leonora Sunday, around 2 a.m.

Photo: Johnny Hanson, Staff

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Amber Rickles wrist and chest were biten by pit b ull mix Gus after a struggle in her laundry room.

Amber Rickles wrist and chest were biten by pit b ull mix Gus after a struggle in her laundry room.

Photo: Advocates For Amber

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Amber Rickles wrist and chest were biten by pit b ull mix Gus after a struggle in her laundry room.

Amber Rickles wrist and chest were biten by pit b ull mix Gus after a struggle in her laundry room.

Photo: Advocates For Amber

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Amber Rickles wrist and chest were biten by pit b ull mix Gus after a struggle in her laundry room.

Amber Rickles wrist and chest were biten by pit b ull mix Gus after a struggle in her laundry room.

Photo: Advocates For Amber

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Animal advocacy groups argued that Gus was provoked and was acting out of fear, Rickles admits she used a taser on the dog by said it was to protect herself.

Animal advocacy groups argued that Gus was provoked and was acting out of fear, Rickles admits she used a taser on the dog by said it was to protect herself.

Photo: Save Sweet Gus/Facebook

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Gus is now free and being trained in California at the Cesar Milan Foundation.

Gus is now free and being trained in California at the Cesar Milan Foundation.

Photo: Save Sweet Gus/Facebook

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Should pit bulls be banned?

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League City council members are considering tough new rules governing the ownership of dangerous dogs after a toddler and her mother were mauled by a pit bull last month.

Chelsi Camp's 2-year-old daughter was still in the dog's grip when officers arrived at the apartment complex where they lived on March 31. Officers had to shoot the animal to free the child.

The girl, whose name was not available, was taken by helicopter to Memorial Hermann hospital with severe injuries to her head and face. Her mother, 23, also was injured and was treated at the hospital.

At a City Council workshop Monday, League City Police Chief Michael Kramm outlined a series of stringent measures to control dangerous dogs.

Possible changes could include mandatory microchips, fluorescent ID tags and sterilization of dogs meeting a definition of dangerous.

Kramm also suggested that any dog deemed dangerous could be euthanized or banned from the city. "What you have to decide is whether you want a dog that's been deemed vicious to remain in your city," he said.

Kramm added he would prefer vicious animals be destroyed, "If my dog bit one of my kids or someone else's kids it would cease to exist – I can't imagine allowing that animal that's been deemed vicious back out there (even to another city)."

Current city ordinances require that a dog deemed dangerous or vicious be registered with city animal control and kept enclosed and muzzled, with signs warning the public of its presence.

Councilman Todd Kinsey suggested tougher measures for owners of pit bulls specifically, saying that breed accounts for almost 80 percent of attacks that result in injury.

"Statistics bear out that that breed is responsible for almost all dog attacks, our number one job as local officials is to our citizens safe," Kinsey said in a telephone interview.

Earlier this month a pit bull mix ordered euthanized after an attack in Montgomery County was saved from death by TV's "dog whisperer," Cesar Milan.

The Milan foundation agreed to take the dog, Gus, after a year long court battle fought by local and national animal advocacy groups.

Gus was sentenced to death after ripping open a woman's arm and chest in February last year.

In January, Christina Bell Burleson, 43, died after being mauled by two pit bulls in Houston.

According to Police Chief Kramm, Texas law prohibits the banning of specific breeds but it would be possible to increase regulations for pit bulls.

Kinsey said he would like to see higher registration fees for pit bulls, extra security fences so they are unable to dig out of yards as well as special liability insurance requirements.

"I'm in favor of making it difficult for people who want to own pit bulls in our community," Kinsey said.